MONDAY WALK 3rd DECEMBER 2018
Christmas Walk – Greenmount Circular with mulled wine
Heading for Windmill Farm
The planned route of this walk was changed because of the heavy rain which had fallen over night. Sixteen walkers braved the wet weather and after organising the flasks of mulled wine we left Greenmount Old School and walked down Kirklees Trail as far as Shepherd Street where we turned right joining Holcombe Road and headed for the footpath into Old Kay’s Park. Once through the park we crossed Turton Road making our way along a footpath onto Cann Street and through the fields towards Windmill Farm
Mulled wine in Hawkshaw
Continuing along a path, on the left, we headed for Buckley Close Farm where we re-crossed Turton Road turning left and walking for a short distance before turning right onto a footpath which took us through the fields to Two Brooks Farm where we turned left onto Two Brooks Lane. By this time the rain had eased slightly and we decided to enjoy our mulled wine, fruit cake and delicious handmade chocolates at Hawkshaw Tennis Club.
Simon’s Lodge
Filled with seasonal cheer we walked into the village and made our way up Hawkshaw Lane as far as High House Farm where we turned right and headed across the very wet fields to the Range House and on towards Simon’s Farm. From here we followed the track into Redisher Wood turning right at the duck boards and making our way to Simon’s Lodge where we could see that the heavy rain had already started to fill the lodge.
Holcombe Valley
Once in Holcombe Brook we crossed Bolton Road West into Woodhey Lane which lead us onto the footpath that descends through Holcombe Valley, alongside the brook, where the volume of water cascading over the falls made the valley even more attractive, although the number of fallen trees was a sad sight to see.
At the bottom of the valley we turned right onto Robin Lane and headed towards Summerseat where we joined Hazel Hall Lane passing the Hamer’s Arms and on towards Longsight Road making our way through the fields back to Greenmount and our Christmas lunch at The Miller & Carter Restaurant, all of us having good appetites after walking 7.3 miles.